Formalizing the core philosophy of Christian Community Development (CCD) and educating members about its unique principles has been one of the association’s goals from the beginning. Over the years, the writings of CCDA founders such as Dr. John Perkins, Dr. Wayne Gordon, Dr. Mary Nelson, Glen Kehrein, and Dr. Bob Lupton have helped to clearly articulate the key components that distinguish CCD from other urban or faith-based approaches to working in at-risk communities.
More recently, CCDA has designed a training school called the "Institute" to help people and ministries get to the next level of understanding and practicing CCD. The CCDA Institute will draw veteran CCD practitioners from around the country to both educate people in the theology and philosophy of CCD and train people in its best practices.
The CCDA Institute offers the following programs:
- Intensives: Individual classes in the unique components of CCD, typically hosted on-site in a ministry context and initiated at the request of a host organization.
- Immersion: an annual one-week CCD "boot camp" in Chicago that awards a CCD certification.
- Leadership Development Cohorts: intimate 2-year-long cohorts designed to help practitioners develop life-long, life-giving relationships for sustaining and deepening their CCD commitment; (unique cohorts are tailored for practitioners at various life stages.)
